Dhofar University holds the second international forum on frankincense

The University of Dhofar is organizing the second international forum on frankincense under the slogan “In order to advance the development of treatment with medicinal plants” in the period from (3-4 September 2023) with the participation of scientists, academics and researchers from universities and institutes affiliated with more than 13 countries, along with many specialists in governmental authorities and some Omani universities, and the forum gives a participatory advantage to a number of researchers and postgraduate students.

The forum, in its second edition, is in line with the future vision of Oman 2040 in terms of developing research and studies on various sources of biodiversity and how to benefit from them through the development of products in a form of food and health supplements, plant medicines and cosmetics, in addition to exploiting other sources of biodiversity such as fungi, beneficial bacteria, algae and coral reefs, besides other studies that will be highlighted during this international forum.

The main objective of the forum is to focus on research and development in the frankincense industry and medicinal plants by transferring knowledge to the industry, which contributes to linking scientific and innovative activities in the fields of biology, chemistry, biotechnology, medical sciences and the health industry, and providing a platform for international exchange and cooperation, with a focus on traditional herbal medicine and biomedicine. In addition, the forum will help promote the status and importance of frankincense and traditional medicinal plants as part of the global cultural heritage and search for new innovations to develop herbal medicine.

Prof. Dr. Louay Rashan, Vice-President of the Forum, Chairman of the Preparatory Committee of the Forum, and Director of the Research Center at the University, indicated that University of Dhofar interested in developing scientific research and innovation in the field of frankincense, which initiated from the fact that the Governorate of Dhofar is historically rich in plant biodiversity, as it includes 58% of the known plants in Oman of more than 800 species including cultivated, medicinal and wild plants. The natural products of these plants (secondary receptors) have been used since ancient times and in folklore to treat many diseases, and these plants are the main source of potential successful drugs. Pointing out that the international forum includes a track specialized in Biology and Pharmacology, which deals with the past, present and future of the frankincense tree. There are also other tracks such as, Chemistry, Synthesis and composition of nutritional supplements and cosmetics.